Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-04-01

LANCASTER, APRIL 1. 1857.
nspsrt ., Civil Service Reform.

- uvon should examine into the operations
~ ~ civil service reform law, the princi-
- and methods Of the present admins
exnG3on In filing the offices and the general
guoGyem Of civil service reform.
xhls committee has just published vol
unlnous report, 20 extensive in fact, that
yo1y fsw will have the patience TO read it,
- supported by the signatures Of men
Whose national reputation commands a.. |
tsntion to anything they may have to say.
George William Curtis, Carl Schurz,
Wayne Mac Veagh, Charles J. Bonaparte.
Charles A. Goldman, Charles G. Allen and
William Potts, are men Of brains, whatever
~ b said Of their mugwumpery.
Thar report deals first with the test of
so1vn service reform in Massachusetts, and
New York, and arrives at the conclusion
Mt it, success depends mainly upon the
ehief executive officer, who may battle the
ro6oem laws IL 30 disposed. "He is con-
sanity besought TO make exceptions to the
s1les and to relieve applicants from compe.
e1taon on the ground that the heads of |
ofnces are responsible for the acts of sub.
egdinates. But this assertion shows q COM
pIeeo mimpprehension Of the law, which /
assumes responsibility for itself by provid.
ing methods Of appointment independent
oe the head Of the office, except in certain
eonfdential positions" .se,
On the whole the committees arc encour-
go y % the pSDulari.yaassd aassd success Of civil
lg16fm in the two states named
the only ones that have given it trial.
Proceeding to the national government,
they quote literally from the expressions
of President Cleveland on the subject and
remark that oyersanguine friends Of re.
form and adherents Of the spoils system
both misunderstood the position of the
president. "The presidents position was
friendly, but it was not that of the League.
II this had been clearly understood extrav.
asAnt expectations would have been
avoided"
They then proceed to investigate the facts
and criticize the policy Of the administra-
tion, and it is to be regretted that in several
instances, notably in that of Postmaster
Hauity, Of Philadelphia, they have per.
0itted justice to be blinded by dust thrown
up by local reform Pharisees.
They qualify their condemnation Of the
failure to enforce their extreme views of
cavil service reform by many hearty tributes
- President Cleveland's g honesty Of purpose
md BY clear exposition Of the difficulties
under which he labors. As a rule his only
source Of information as to the fitness of an
applicant for office IL the congressman from
- DISTRICT ITO establish an independent
Ostsm for obtaining such information is
90 ct the most important, and not the
hase difficult, problems to be solved by a
reform administration.
They warmly commend the administra-
tton Tor the enforcement and success Of re-
SnRm In Washington. Nowhere is the
partisan and personal pressure for change
noee concentrated and constant. But the
agures show that the rules in general have
han faithfully observed. Not for half a
oanfuEy have there been 50 few removals in
tnae service within tie same time upon a
! va4y change Of administration, and the
ooeervance Of the rules and the condition
9 the service in the departments demon.
sesafes once more both the practcability
and the benefit of the reform"
They severely criticise the policy that
has been followed in other parts of the
country and especially in Indiana and
1Nyland, the open opposition of Senator
6 0oeman in the latter state exciting their
Noaent wrath. They are hard on the ad-
niation OF the Indian bureau, though
eomist'ng that they do not speak from
ebcial information.
Dus upon the showing Of this report,
~ieh has neither concealed nor extepuated
ths most Injurious facts. il our estimate of
X tne aitustion be just, the administrator
{ undr enormous disadvantages and ner.
vaexities has accomplished much for tho
1oform OF the civil service. Great nnbI;c
oGces which hitherto have been partisan
heAdqusrters, have been transformed into
aeSictly business Offices. Not for half a
3 eonfuEy has there been less obnoxious
Dollfacal activity among ofiicsholders."
xheg think that the administration il
& - popular in localities where civil ser.
yloer reeorm has been most signalIy enforced
- IN CONCLUSION they say that it has only
4 - o0hSre to the purpose manifested In
1870 Of it, most significant acts, and con.
|4onEn 70 the principles of the president q
}oooou 70 become identified with the most
tupegtant and beneHcent reform in our
pealfieal history.
~ the Judgment of men whose reform
eoe6ine has been considered rather extreme
o040nattcal, this condemnation with strong
oa1e may be considered quite . feather In
sondent Clevelands cap, for he has
sAeed 70 b . practical business like
q Emr and - such they mark him.
The Death efsaxe.
- hGht Of one who caused many a amila
- q the wrinklsd brow Of care has
- - ths death Of John Godfrey
opeae cd humorist. He wss not
= > ~ senss OF moving his
~ Devnesi undapeuusat &
- slsa ilssniaa.